Watertight door



1937. A. 1.. LAMBERT ET AL 2,103,291

WATERTIGHT DOOR Filed Aug. 22, 1955 4 Sheefcs-Sheet l llllW BY r WATT

Dec. 28, 1937. A. L. LAMBERT ET AL WATERTIGHT DOOR Filed Aug. 22, 1935 4Sheets-Sheet 2 3%.;ATTORNEY Dec. 28, 1937. A." L. LAMBERT ET AL2,103,291

' WATERTIGHT DOOR Filed Aug. 22, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 A. L. LAMBERT ETAL Dec. 28, 1937.

WATERTIGHT DOOR Filed Aug. 22, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Mar-1.x

My BY ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 28, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT WATERTIGHTnoon Albert L. Lambert and Francis M. Lambert, Narberth, Pa., assignorsto Heintz Manufacturing Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation ofPennsylvania Application August 22, 1935, Serial No. 37,269 as Claims.(01. r14 117) This invention relates to water-tight doors, and relatesto means for mounting and operating the doors as well as to theconstruction of the doors and of frames and jambs therefor.

other object of this invention is to provide means of this characterwhereby the corresponding door movements may be caused to be ofdifferent ex-- tent.

One of the principal objects of this invention A further object of thisinvention is to provide is to provide a water-tight door so constructeda door jamb or frame which presents a true and mounted that an extremelyeffective waterand even seat for the door, and a frame Or jamb tightseal is established under pressure applied member wh c may b a h d t abu a toward either side of the doorway, and to proor partition securelyd y, r sp ve vide a construction of this character which isirregularities and unevenness of the edge. of the light in weight andwhich is able to withstand bulkhead or pa t t on receiving t l mb ogreat pressures without breaking and Without fram and w thout th flatnss a al n impairing the effectiveness of the seal, and to of the jamb orframe being dislocated or afprovide a construction of the characterdescribed feeted by s ch irregularities unevenness 0f t e which isextremely durable and resistant to dis bulkhead Partition location andrupture under shocks and jars, even A more specific object of thisinvention inof tremendous severity, including those resulteludes theprovision of a bulkhead door for use ing from explosions or otherdetonations in the n ships and in this connection it may be p dvicinity. out that it is particularly required or desirable Anotherobject of this invention is to provide a that such d r e efi i ly W i htunder door having the characteristics referred to, and low pressures asWe l as under high pres one which is self-seating against its doorframe, irrespective of whether the pressure is on either 3 and one whichbecomes seated more tightly as side of the door only or is against h thepressure against it increases, and to provide and the seal to be and toremain effective at all a door which is effectively water-tightirrespeclevels of water on the door; that the door betive of the heightof the water against the door, self-closing under p s e pplied aga s t eand is also efiectively water-tight under low de o ag st bot s d sSimultaneously. d pressures against the door as well as under high yetmay normally be opened and closed quickly pressures; and another objectof this invention and easily; that they efiectively withstand shocks isto provide a door structure that is gas-tight as and jars of great forceWithout becoming diswell as watertight. placed or broken or theireffectiveness and op- Another object of this invention is to'provideeration impaired, and that the doors be light in a door of the characterreferred to and one which weight and at the same time extremely strong,"can be opened readily, easily, and quickly, with a shock resistant, anddurable, as Well asrust and minimum of operations and comparativelylittle corrosion resistant. Accordingly, the more speforce, and will notjamb or stick or become hard cific objects of this invention include theprovito open or close. sion of a specific door jamb or frame assembly,

Another object of this invention is to provide a specific door panelconstruction, and means simple and efiective means whereby two doorswhereby the panel is anchored to the door frame :10 hung on oppositesides of a wall or bulkhead to when the door is closed, and particularlywhen close an opening therein by swinging in opposite it is closed andunder pressure; a special device directions may be drawn and heldtogether effor drawing and clamping together two doors fectively andsecurely, and against becoming rehung on opposite sides of a bulkhead;specific leased, and requiring merely a simple and easy mechanismconnecting such doors together so operation which may be carried outquickly and, that they close and open simultaneously as a rewith littleeffort, from either side of the wall or sult of either door being openedor closed, all bulkhead, and at the same time permitting the thesefeatures cooperating to provide in a waterdoors to be released from eachother readily, tight door the features referred to above as being easilyand quickly, when desired. required o desirable.

.30 Another object of this invention is to provide In addition to these,other objects of this inmeans so connecting tw d rs u n pposite ventionwill be in part obvious and in part pointsides of a partition orbulkhead to close in oppoed out hereinafter. Site directions, that theClosing p ng of In vorder that a clearer understanding'of this eitherdoor will result in a simultaneous and corinvention may be had,attention is herebydir responding movement of the other door; and am dthe accompanying drawing forming a P through the center of the door, asindicated closing and door or:jamb-.-is-designedfor two doors mounted onopposite sides of the bulkhead or partition 2| to" embodying thisinvention, certain parts being broken away to bring out moreclearlycertain features of the construction; v

Fig. 2 is a sectional view thereof and is taken on the line 2--2of Fig.1; r 1

Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view the line 3-3 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 4 of the construction,

door as seated under emergency pressure;

Fig. 5 is a broken sectional view of the door ing a hinge mounting, andis taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 israsectionalyiew.of adetailshowing a hingemounting, and is takenonthe line.6.-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a sectional view of the mechanism for drawing and. clampingthe. two doors .together, and is. takenonthe line 'i -llof Fig.8;

Fig. 8 is a. sectional view thereof. taken ata different angle;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of aportion of a modi fication, showingfragments of the free edges of the doors, the adjacent portion of thejamb, and the means for drawing and clamping these door edges againstthejamb; and

Fig. 10-isa front elevationthereof.

Similar reference characters refer. to similar parts throughouttheseveral views of the drawings.

Referring to the .drawings, the construction in.- cludesacontinuous doorjamb or frame comprising a channelshaped sheet metal part havingaback-wall H, side walls i2 and I3, with outwardly extending ribs orflanges hand If). along their edges, and a face strip ltextending acrossand welded to theribs l4 and i5,- completing. a boxlike rail formationhaving outwardly extending flangesalong both inner edges. Between therib l4-and an attachmentangle strip I'Lsecured tochannel wall l2,isseated a strip of resilient packing I8, such as rubber, of substantialwidth and thickness, and a-similar rubber packing I9 is seated betweenrib l5- and a metal attachment strip 20, attached to channel wall l3 asby welding.

Bottom wall H of the box frame seats against and iswelded to-the edge ofthebulkhead or partition 2| "about the opening therein. The. edges ofsuch openings in bulkheads and partitions in ships are frequently wavyorotherwisLe irregular either longitudinally or transversely or bothways, and because the base of the box frame may be effectively securedto the bulkhead or partition wall by welding, andthe welding may be soapplied as to effectively seal any apertures or spaces-which may appearbetween the box frame and bulkhead edge, this frame construction andmanner of its. mounting results in. the frame presenting-an even,smooth, and properly aligned seating surface for the door at all points,irrespective of the roughness or unevenness of the bulkhead edge attheopening. This. door frame close by swingingiinzoppositedirections.soas to face each. other.

As shown, each suchdoor comprises an inwardly is an enlarged sectionalview of an edge" showing-.one of the doorsin normal closed position,andtshowing the other connecting mechanism, in'clud 20; and the sealingsimultaneously. As shown,

dished sheet metal panel 22, 22, reinforced centrally by an invertedbox-like sheet metal reinforcement 23, which has a marginal flange 24resting against and welded to the face of the panel. About the edge ofeach panel is welded the flange 25 of a reinforcing strip which has adoubled portion 26 extending transversely across the edge-of-the panel.To the inside face of each panel about its edge is welded an angle strip21 which has a rib or flange 28 directed inwardly oft'the door andisadapted to seat on the packing strip ..l8.. or l9 provided therefor onthe corresponding face of the door jamb or frame, and to encirclethe-anchoringrib, M or l5, of the door frame on the. side away from thecenter of the doorway of 'the' frame or wall.

In the normal opening and closing of either door the flange 2610f thepanel edge reinforcemerit clears the packing retaining strips ll or andanchoring ribs 28 clear the. projecting .ribs I 4- and I5 at the inneredges of thebox frame, Without interference. However, when pressure. isapplied against the outside of either. door, its. panel tendsv to bowmore inwardly, as..illustrated Withrespect to the panel 22' shown. in.Fig. 4. This further bowing in of the panel. draws its periphery towardthe center ofv the door, and consequently draws. the sealing andanchoring. rib..28 more deeply into the rubber sealing strip of thedoor'frame, and more tightly against the. anchoring. ribs. M or N3 ofthe box rail, and to increase their interengagement. Thisinteren-gagingof the panelribs28 behind one of the anchoring ribs, 14 orIE, of the door frame prevents the panel edge from moving radiallyinward and prevents further bowing in of the door panel and places thispanel under tension. Because of the dished-infcontour of the panel, thestrains of the anchoring ribs of the doors and door frame are not nearlyso great as would'be the. caseif the panels did nothave this contour,and this, in combination with the anchoring of the'panel edge againstthe frame ribs, prevents the panels from being ruptured. or becomingdistorted under pressures, even when extremely great. Furthermore, thegreater the pressure, the deeper and more forcefully will the sealingand anchoring rib '28 enter and press into the rubber sealingstrip andinterengage with the anchoring ribs, M or i5, of the door and thus thestrength and the resistance of the seal to penetration bywater isincreased as the pressure against the panel increases.

Each ofthe doors may be hung on two or more suitable hinges. As shown,each hinge may include two arms 30, welded at their door ends to a plate(which may be formed integral with flange 25 of strip 26) secured tothedoor, and pivoted at theirrear ends on hinge pins 32, which penetratean arm or bracket 33 extending through and Welded to the bulkhead wall,each hinge bracket thus. serving the two doors on opposite sides of thebulkhead. Preferably the hinge pins 32 extend through oversized holes 29to insure against any jamming or sticking of the doors at these hinges.

The doors may be connected so as to swing the device for this purpose isin the main carried on a framework comprising upper plate 35'and lowerplate 36, connected at their centers by a partition plate 31 welded atits upper and-lower edges thereto, there being also.a connecting strip38 engaging and welded to-the rear edges of plates 35 and 36 attheircenter portions and to the rear edge of the Ni V center plate 31. Asuitable aperture is cut in a bulkhead adjacent to the center of thedoor frame at the hinge edge of the doors, and the framework is disposedcentrally in this aperture. The front edge of crossplate 3'! is weldedto the back of the door frame, and the plates 35 and 35 and .thecross-strip 33 are welded to the adjacent edges of the bulkhead. Thisframe or bracket structure carries the mechanism connecting the doors aswell as the mechanism for pressure closing both doors.

The mechanism for each door is substantially the same (see Figs. 3 and5). The door having the panel 22 is engaged by the threaded shank 49 ofa clevis 41, which is pivotaliy mounted, as by pin 42, on the end of anarm 43 which has an outwardly curved opposite end provided with a sleeveportion 44, pinned, as at 45, to ashaft 46, which is journalled inroller bearings 41, carried in housings 48 formed on the plates 35 and36, pin thus being the pivot pin on which the arm l3 swings. One end ofsleeve 44 has clutch teeth 5| complementary to and interlocking with hubteeth 49 of a gear 50, loosely mounted on shaft 46. Gear 50 is in meshwith a pinion 52, rotatably mounted on a pin 53, which is rotatablysupported by the plates 35 and 36. Connected to pinion 52 for rotationtherewith, as by intermeshing clutch teeth, is a bevel gear 54 which isin mesh with a bevel gear 56, mounted on the square end 57 of a shaft58, rotatably supported in a journal bearing 59, extending through asuitable aperture therefor in the cross-plate 31, and welded at itscenter to the plate 3'! peripherally. The opposite end of shaft 58 issquared, and carries a bevel gear 60 which meshes with a bevel gearconnected, as by clutch teeth, to pinion t2, gear 6| and pinion 62 beingmounted for rotation in unison on a shaft 63 supported by plates 35 and36. Gear 62 is in mesh with a gear 64, having hub teeth 65 interlockingwith teeth 66 on the end of a sleeve portion 67 of the arm 68 which ispivotally connected to the other door (which has the panel 22') by meansof clevis 69, which has a threaded shank Ill engaging this door.

Thus it will be seen that by means of this gear train connection betweenthe doors, when either door is opened or closed there will be asimultaneous and corresponding movement of the other door. In theillustration shown, both doors will move to the same extent; however,movement of one door to a relatively greater or less extent than thecorresponding movement of the other door may easily be arranged for byadjusting the ratios between the gear 50 and pinion 52, or between gear64 and pinion 62. For instance, by transposing the gear 50 and pinion 52the movement of the door including panel 22 will be of greater extentthan the corresponding movement of the door having the panel 22. Asuggestion is that the gear ratios be such that when the gear 50 andpinion 52 are transposed, or when the gear 64 and pinion 62 aretransposed, the corresponding door will open to half the extent of thecorresponding movement of the other door, thus permitting an arrangementwhereby when one door is swung in an arc of 180 degrees the other doorwill only swing in an arc of 90 degrees. If desired each arm 43 and 68may be formed with a heel or lug, such as H, positioned to seat in frontof the reinforcing edge flange 26 of each panel when the doors areclosed, and each serving as an abutment for the edge flanges when thepanel of the door is bowed in under pressure, and also serving toprevent the edge of the door from. being jarred out of place byishocksand vibrations, or by sudden and violent expansion of the air enclosedbetwee the doors, as may follow an explosion. i I

To insure against jamming or binding of the mechanism'connecting thedoors for simultaneous movement, it is suggested that either the'clutchconnection between the gear 50 and sleeve 44, or the clutch connectionbetween gear. 64 and v the sleeve 61v be made to have slight play orlost motion. For instance, a loose fitting of themterconnecting clutchteeth providing r a slight clearance, such as of an inch between themmay be provided, as shown at 55.

The doors are also provided with means for seating them closed underpressure, while at the same time permitting them to be swung openwithout building up resisting pressure during the entire extent ofopening movement. For instance, the inner end of each arm 43 and 68 maybe formed as or provided with a cam member 72 havinga cam surface 13inclining sharply toward the pivot 45 and joining at its outer end witha with the pivot 45,

El. Plunger i9 is pivotally mounted on a bracka et 8!! affixed to thepartition 31. The arrangement is such that when the door is nearly fullyclosed the cam rollers 15 roll oif the surface 74 and on to the camsurface 73, whereupon the spring "[8 will cause the rollers to pressagainst the surface 13 and will close and hold the door closed under thepressure of the spring. When the door is opened, however, a slightopening movement of the door will ride the cam surface 14 intoengagement with the rollers 15, and since surface 74 is concentric withpivot 46 the spring pressure will not be increased as the door is openedfurther. Thus it will be apparent that the door is closed and heldclosed under spring pressureand yet at the same time the door can beopened" and closed readily and easily and without great effort. Thepressure under which either door is seated may be regulated by detachingthe clevis (4| or 69) of that door from its operating arm, giving theclevis one or more half turns on the door, and then reattaching theclevis to the arm.

Means are also provided whereby, by a manual operation, the doors may bedrawn tightly into the jamb and so secured. One means of this charactermay comprise a device whereby the doors may be drawn together. Suchmeans may comprise a pair of arcuate cam members 85 and 86, mounted onthe inner side of the panel 22 of one of the doors, and each having anundercut cam surface 81 and 88 bowing toward the panel 22 centrally fromboth ends, the cam surfaces facing the door and being spaced therefrom.These cam members 85 and 36 may comprise integral portions of a circularmember 89, having aperturedlugs 99 whereby the plate may be secured tothe door. An annular spring plate 9| is disposed within member 89 andspaced from the door panel and held against rotation by means of an ear92 fcrmedon the plate SI and engaging between two of the attachment lugs90. Plate 9| is formed with two diametrically 7 water-tight.

.opposite stamped-in'portions or humps 93', which normally rest on thecam surfaces just to one side of the peaks thereof. Aspindle 94 isrotat-' ably mounted in a suitable journal assembly 95 carriedon theother door, suitable packing being provided to render the connection andhearing The inner end of spindle 94 is formed with teeth 91 exposed onthe rear of the door, and has a' threadedscrew hole to receive a screw98, which penetrates aclamping member 99'which has teeth I interlockingwith teeth 91, and whereby the clamping member is firmly attached to thespindle and the teeth I00 and 91 held interlocked, thus insuring againstrelative rotation between the clamping member and the spindle. Clampingmember 99 has two oppositely directed clamping arms IOI and I02,adapted, when the doors are closed, to move into a space provided in thewedge ring 89 between the cam portions 85 and 86, so that the clampingarms may be turned to engage and ride on the undercut cam surfaces todraw and to clamp the doors together. As the clamping arms are moved tothe peaks of the inclines, or at any suitable points in their clampingmovement, the clamping arms engage and depress the detent portions 93 ofthe spring plate 9| so as to pass under the detents, and as soon as theclamping arms have moved past these detents, the detents snap behind theclamping arms and thus yieldingly restrain return movement of theclamping arms out of the wedging and clamping engagement with the camsurfaces.

A suitable handle I04 is secured to the end of shaft 94 whereby thewedge: member 99 may be rotated to engage the cam surfaces 85 and 86 todraw the doors together, and to be engaged by the detents 93. When thedoors are disconnected from each other the spring I03 normally holdsshaft 94 in such position of rotation that the clamping arms IOI and I02of the clamp 99 will be in proper position to enter between the camportions 85 and B6, and into alignment with the spaces which the camsurfaces face, thus eliminating any necessity on the part of a persondesiring to couple and draw'the doors together to move the handle I94 orto adjust the parts to insure proper entry of the clamping fingers intothe cam member for coupling engagement therewith. If the clampingfingers were not normally held in proper position to enter between thecam portions into alignment with the spaces along the cam surfaces, aperson might be obliged to manipulate the handle I04 to align theclamping fingers so that they would enterthe cam member, and this wouldbe likely to cause difliculty, delay and annoyance. 1

In order that the wedge fingers WI and I02 may be rotated into clampingengagement with the cam surfaces 81 and 88 by a person operating fromthe outside of the oppositedoor, to draw the doors together, a memberI05 having outwardly projecting prongs I06. and I01 is secured to theinner end of a spindle I08 rotatably carried in a journal assembly I09mounted on that door, and having a suitable handle IIO whereby the shaftI08 and the prong member I05 may be rotated. Prongs I06 and I01 arediametrically opposite each other, and each normally extends through theopen center of annular spring plate 9| and into the hollow of the camplate 89 intermediate the ends of each cam portion, being normally movedto and held in this position by means of a suitable'spring (not shown)enclosed in the journalassembly I09 and. affixed atv one arosgzerextent, including the displacement of the detents 93 and the locking oftheclamping arms in final clamping position. Since the clamping member99 and the prong member I05 are thus connected to move in unison, thedoors may be coupled and drawn together and may be uncoupled from eachother by operating either handle I04 or IIO;

Another arrangement for clamping the doors against the door jambs isillustrated in Figs. 9 and 10. In this modification the operating arms II5and I I6, which at their hinge edges are similar to and mounted thesame way as the arms 43 and 68, extend beyond their clevises M and 69 tothe free edges of the doors, and at these ends each is provided with anarcuate formation H1 and H8, presenting a cam surface, such as II 9, forengagement by a dog, such as. I and I2I,

mounted on the square ends, such as I22, of a shaft I 23, which isjournalled in a suitable bracket I24 penetrating and welded tothebulkhead. The dogs are thus connected together to move in unison. Thedogs have operating handles I25 and I26 whereby both'dogs may be engagedwith the cam surfaces of both arms H5 and H6 and both doors forced intothe jambs and so held. It will be noted that the pressures applied bythe dogs are exerted against the doors through the clevises 4| and 69,thereby distributing the clamping effect about the entire peripheries ofthe doors.

If desired each of the arms H5 and H6 may be apertured, as at I21,somewhat inwardly of the cam surfaces I I9, to receive a pin I28 mountedon a bracket I29, secured to each door, each pin carrying a spring Iconfined between the bracket I29 and a washer I3I mounted on the pin forlimited movement toward and from the bracket and so arranged that whenthe dogs I20 and I2I are engaged with the cam surfaces, 9-, springs I30press against the door and against the arms H5 and I I6. The function ofthese springs is to establish a certain resiliency which permits theedges of the doors to yield sufficiently and momentarily under extremelysevere and sudden expansion of air in the space between the doors topermit sufiic ent air to escape to avoid any breaking or distortion ofany of the parts or connections which otherwise might occur. Suchexpansion of the air between the doors may be occasioned by an explosionor detonation in the vicinity. With this construction each door may havea suitable handle (not shown) to facilitate opening and closing of thedoors. I

The operation of opening and closing the doors is simple and requireslittle'effo'rt and may be done quickly. To open the doors all that isnecessary is to go toeither door and either turn the center handle touncouple the center lock, or, if the doors have the edge dogs instead ofthe center lock, todisengage the dogs, and then pull that door open. Theoperation of closing the doors is also very simple and requires littleeffort and may be done quickly. If the doors are open to a sub- 1 nearlyclosed position. At the end of the closing movement the springs 18 willact on the cam surfaces 73 to fully close the doors and to press andhold the doors against the rubber sealing strips. To draw the doorstogether and to seat them more firmly and with a tighter seal it is onlynecessary to turn either center handle of the center locking device, orto engage the dogs l2! with the cam surfaces I it! of the levers I I5and 1 Hi.

It will be apparent from the above that the doors when closed establisha water-tight seal effective under low pressures as Well as under highpressures, and at all points about the peripheries of the doors, and forall heights of water from their sills to their tops. It will also benoted that the seals are tight against penetration by gases, and arealso highly resistant to penetration by heat, due to the completeness ofthe air space between the doors and in the jamb and the few and smallareas of metal which bridge the two doors. The doors are resistant notonly to pressures applied inwardly, but also are resistant to outwardpressures from the intermediate air space and which are apt to followgunfire or other explosions taking place outside of the doors.

The advantages and improvements contemplated by the objects of thisinvention, as well as other advantages and improvements, will be readilyapparent from the above description'and' the accompanying drawings.Variation in and modifi ation of the construction and the parts thereofare possible, and as many changes may be made the above construction andas many apparently widely difierent embodiments of this invention may behad without departing from the scope thereof, it is understood that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What we claim is:

1. A door frame of the character described, comprising a channel ironhaving a bottom wall adapted to be disposed longitudinally along and tobe welded to metallic partition members providing an opening for theframe, flanges extending outwardly from the edges of the channel sidewalls and substantially at right angles thereto. and a tie piecebridging and secured to said flanges to form. with the channel iron aframe member boxlike in cross section.

2. A door frame of the character described, comprising a channel ironhaving a bottom wall adapted to be disposed longitudinally along and tobe welded to metallic partition members providing an opening for theframe, flanges extending outwardly from the edges of the channel sidewalls and substantially at right angles thereto, and a tie piecebridging and secured to said flanges to form with the channel iron aframe member box-like in cross section, a retaining flange secured tothe outer face of each channel side wall and spaced from said flangesand forming with said flanges and the intermediate portions of said sidewalls retaining channels for packing strips, and packing strips seatedin said retaining channels.

3. In combination with a swinging door and a door frame providing a jambfor the door, of. an alm attached to the door, means pivotally mountingthe arm adjacent the door to swing therewith, a cam attached to the armto rotate therewith about the arm pivot, and a pressure device having apressure member engaging and pressing against said cam when the door isclosed, to urge the arm to rotate on its pivot in door closing directionand to press the door into the jamb, said cam having an arcuate camsurface approximately concentric with the pivot axis of the arm engagingsaid pressure member in certain open positions of the door,

arm attached to the door, means pivotally mount-'- ing the arm adjacentthe door to swing therewith,

a cam attached to the arm to rotate therewith about the arm pivot, and apressure device having a pressure member engaging and pressing againstsaid cam when the door is closed, to urge the arm to rotate on its pivotin door closing direction and to press the door into the jamb, and aclevis attaching the arm to the door, said clevis being carried on thearm and in adjustable threaded engagement with the door, the relativeclosing positions of the door and arm being variable in ac cordance withvariations in the threaded engagement of the clevis withthe door to varythe closing conditions of the door.

5. In combination with a swinging door and a door frame providing a jambtherefor, of an arm attached to the door, means pivotally mounting thearmadjacent the door to swing therewith, a cam attached to the arm torotate therewith about the arm pivot and having a cam surface in-' andmeans, including a spring plunger engaging and pressing the pressuremember against said said operating arm to rotate in door closingdirection to press the door into surface moving out of contact with thepressure member when the door is opened to a predetermined position, andsaid cam having an arcuate gagement with said pressure member when thedoor is opened to said predetermined position and to engage the door infurtheropen positions.

the character described,

of the frame and to the frame rib.

7. In door structure of the character described, including a door frameand a swinging door to close against the frame, an arm extending acrossthe door and attached .to the center thereof,"

cam surface to urge the jamb, said cam means mounting the do g 7 againstopposite faces of theframe, said frame holding said doors spaced apartwhen closed, an arm extending across the outer face of each door andattached centrally thereto, means pivotally mounting one end of each armto swing with its door, the opposite end of each arm having a camsurface, each arm being spaced outwardly of the outer face of'its door,resilient means pressing outwardly on each arm and inwardly on eachdoor, a dog for each arm, and means mounting the dogs adjacent thecorresponding door edges to swing into and out of clamping engagementwith the cam surfaces of the corresponding arms when the doors areclosed to clamp the door edges resiliently against said frame and toestablish a water-tight and gas-tight joint between each door and theframe, permitting resilient movement of the door edges from the frameand the escape of gas through said joint under relatively great suddenpressures acting in the space between the doors.

9. In a door structure of the character described, including a doorframe, two doors fitted thereto, each including a flexible centralpanel,

7 means mounting'said doors to swing in opposite directions againstopposite faces of the frame,

an arm extending across the outer face of each door and attachedcentrally to the flexible panel portion thereof, means pivotallymounting one end of each arm to swing with its door, the opposite end ofeach arm having a cam surface, a dog for each arm, and means mountingboth dogs adjacent the corresponding door edges to swingsimultaneouslyinto and out of clamping engagement with the cam surfacesof the corresponding arms when the doors are closed to flex the flexiblepanels toward each other and to clamp the doors simultaneously to and tounclamp the doors simultaneously from the frame.

10. In door structure of the character described, two doors facing eachother when closed, coupling means including members on the opposingfaces of the doors interfitting and one member movable into couplingengagement with the other member when the doors are closed to couple thedoors together, and detent means mounted on one of said doorsand'engagin'g said movable member when in coupling engagement with theother member to retain said movable member in said engagement.

1 1. In door structure of the character described, two doors facing eachother when closed,

coupling means including members on theopposing faces of the doorsinterfitting and one member movable into coupling engagement with ,theother member when the doors are closed to couple the doors together, anda spring detent mounted on'one of said doors to engage and retain saidmovable member in said coupling engagement when the movable member ismoved into said engagement.

12. The combination with two doors facing each other, of mechanism forcoupling and drawing the doors together, said mechanism includingcomplementary coupling members on the opposing faces of said doors, oneof said members having wedge surfaces spaced from and facing the door onwhich'it is mounted and the other of said members having'fingers toengage said wedge surfaces, one of said couplingmembers being movablerelatively to the other to interengage said wedge surfaces and fingersto couple and to draw the doors together.

13. The combination with two doors facing each other, of mechanism forcoupling and drawing the doors together, said mechanism includingcomplementary'coupling members on the opposing faces of said doors, oneof said members having wedgesurfaces spaced from and facing the door onwhichit is mounted and the other of said members having fingers toengage said wedge surfaces, one of said coupling members being movablerelatively to the other to interengage said wedge surfaces and-fingersto couple and to draw the doors together, and operating means on bothdoors engagingland operable to move said movable coupling member intocoupling engagement with the other coupling member, said operating meansbeing operable from the outside of either door.

14. The combination with two doors facing each other, of mechanism forcoupling and drawing the doors together, said mechanism including a pairof spaced wedge members on the inner face of one of the doors, eachhaving a cam surface spaced from and facing said door,

between said wedge members and into alignment.

with the spaces faced by the cam surfaces and means for moving said cammember to ride said fingers upon said cam surfaces to draw and to clampthe two doors together.

15. The combination with two doors facing each other, of mechanism forcoupling and drawing the doors together, said mechanism including a pairof spaced wedge members on the inner face of one of the doors, eachhavinga cam surface spaced from and facing said door, a cam membermovably mounted on the other door and having cam fingers to fit into thespace between said wedge members and into alignment with the spacesfaced by the cam surfaces and means for moving said cam member to ridesaid fingers upon said cam surfaces to draw and to clamp the two doorstogether, and a spring detent member mounted on the door having thewedge members and having detent portions dis posed in the spaces facedby the wedge surfaces moved to predetermined clamping position on thewedge surfaces to resist movement of said fingers out of said clampingposition.

16. The combination with two doors facing each other, of mechanism forcoupling and drawing'the doors together, said mechanism including a pairof spaced wedge members on the inner face of one of the doors, eachhaving a cam surface spaced from and facing said door, a cam membermovably mounted on the other door and having cam fingers to fit into thespace between said wedge members and into alignment r and engaging saidcam fingers when each is with the spaces faced by the camsurfaces andmeans for moving said cam member to ride said fingers upon said camsurfaces to draw and to clamp the two doors together, said meansincluding a rotatable member mounted on the door having thewedge'membersand engaging the cam member to move in unison therewith, ahandle on said door connected to said rotatable member and movably tomove said rotatable member and said cam member, and a handle on theother door connected to said cam member and movable to move said cammember.

17. The combination with two doors facing each other, of mechanism forcoupling and drawing the doors together, said mechanism including a pairof spaced wedge members on the inner face of one of the doors, eachhaving a cam surface spaced from and facing said door, a cam membermovably mounted on the other door and having cam fingers to fit into thespace between said wedge members and into alignment with the spacesfaced by the cam surfaces and means for moving said cam member to ridesaid fingers upon said cam surfaces to draw and to clamp the two doorstogether, said means including a rotatable member mounted on the doorhaving the wedge members and engaging the cam member to move in unisontherewith, a handle on said door connected to said rotatable member andmovably to move said rotatable member and said cam member, and a handleon the other door connected to said cam member and movable to move saidcam member, and spring means connected to each door and to each handlethereon normally setting and maintaining the said cam fingers inposition to enter and to fit between the wedge surfaces and in alignmentwith the spaces along the wedge surfaces and set for movement intoengagement therewith.

18. The combination with two doors facing each other, of mechanism forcoupling and drawing the doors together, said mechanism including on oneof the doors a pair of spaced cam members, each having a cam surfacefacing and spaced from the door, a rotatable shaft having an operatinghandle on the outer face of the door and a pair of prongs fixed to theshaft and projecting between said cam members centrally, and includingon the other door a rotatable shaft having an operating handle on theouter face of the door and a pair of divergent fingers fixed to theshaft to fit between and laterally engage said prongs to rotatesimultaneously therewith and to fit between said cam members and intoalignment with the spaces therealong and to rotate into engagement withsaid cam surfaces to draw and to clamp the doors together, the rotationof either door handle moving said fingers relatively to said wedgesurfaces.

19. In door structure of the character described, including a doorframe, two doors, means mounting said doors to swing in oppositedirections against opposite faces of the frame, means includingintereng'aging members on the opposite faces of the doors and inwardlyof their edges to couple the doors together and to draw them againstsaid frame, and motion transmitting mechanism connected to both doorsconnecting the doors to move simultaneously.

20. In combination with a wall having a door opening, of two doors,means mounting said doors to swing in opposite directions face to faceto close the door opening, each door having a marginal rib projectingfrom the doorway side at an angle to the plane of the door, a door framefor both doors, fitting the door opening marginally and having ribsprojecting toward each door and resilient packing adjacent the wallsides of said ribs, the door ribs seating against said packing andinterlocking with the frame ribs when the doors are closed to restrainradially inward movement of the door edges when the bodies of the doorsare subjected to pressure in closing direction, and means includinginterengaging members on the opposing faces of the doors to couple thedoors together and to draw the ribs on the 21. Ina door of the characterdescribed, a V

dished, flexible, sheet metal face the concavity extending from allpanel having of a door frame, a member supported adjacent the door frameand connected to said panel adjacent said central area and means forurging said member toward said panel when the door is closed, theconcave face of said panel being on the outward side thereof.

22. In a door of the character described, a dished, flexible, sheetmetal face panel having the concavity extending from all points aroundits edge to a commonv central area of the panel, a metal stiffening edgeframe having an attachment flange seating against and secured to theedge portion of the panel, and having a stiffening flange extendingacross the edge of the attachment flange at an angle thereto, and ametal angle secured to the panel portion and having a sealing flangeextending from the inner face of the panel edge portion and at an anglethereto.

23. The combination with a door provided with a dished, flexible, sheetmetal face panel having the concavity extending from all points aroundits edge to a common central area of the panel, of a box-like metalreinforcement secured to the panel at the center of the concavity, adoor frame, a member supported adjacent said frame and connected to saidreinforcement and means for urging said member toward said reinforcementwhen the door is closed.

24.. The combination with a door frame and a door fitting the frame andhaving an inwardly flexible sheet metal panel, of means, includingmembers on the edgeof the panel and on the door frame interengaging whenthe door is closed on the door frame, to anchor the edge of the panelagainst movement toward the center of the door when the panel is flexedinwardly, said panel being dished inwardly and the concavity extendingfrom all points around its edge to a common center area of the panel,said panel shape tending to diminish strain'on the said interengagingmembers and on the body of the panel consequen tial to outside pressureapplied to the panel tending to flex the panel inwardly, a membersupported adjacent said door frame and connected to said panel adjacentsaid center area and means for urging said member toward said panel whenthe door is closed.

25. The combination with a door frame and a door fitting the frame andhaving an inwardly flexible sheet metal panel, of complemental means onthe door and door frame providing interengaging surfaces angularlyrelated to the plane of the door when closed to restrain radially inwardmovement of the door edge'when the door panel is subjected to flexingpressure in closing direction, said panel being dished inwardly and theconcavity extending from all points around its edge to a common centerarea, the said panel shape tending to diminish strain on saidinterengaging surfaces and on the body of the panel consequential toflexing pressure against the panel in door closing direction, and meansconnected to said panel adjacent said center area for urging said dooragainst said frame when the door is in closed position.

26. The combination with door fitting the frame and flexible sheet metalpanel,

a door frame and a having an inwardly of means comprising points aroundits edge to a common central area of the panel,

complemental anchoring ribs on the door and door frame interengagingwhen the door is closed to restrain radial inward movement of the dooredge when the door panel is subjected to flexing pressure in closingdirection, said panel being dished inwardly and the concavity extending,from all points around its edge to'a common center area of b the panel,said panel shape tending to diminish strain on said interengaging ribsand on the body of the panel consequential to inwardly flexing pressureapplied against the panel, and means supported adjacent said door frameand connected to said panel adjacent said center area for urging saiddoor against said frame when the door is in closed position.

2'7. The combination with a door frame and a door fitting the frame andhaving an inwardly flexible sheet metal panel, of means comprisingcomplemental anchoring ribs on the door and door frame interengagingwhen the door is closed to restrain radial inward movement of the dooredge when the door panel'is subjected to flexing pressure in closingdirection, said panel being dished inwardly and the concavity'extendingfrom all points around its edge to a common center area of the panel,said panel shape tending, to diminish strain on said interengaging ribsand on the body of the panel consequential to inwardly flexing pressureapplied against the panel, and packing on the door frame havingwater-tight contact with said anchoring ribs of the door when the dooris closed. 7 i

28. A door structure of the character'described,

including,'a door frame having a doorway'and anchoring rib extendingabout the doorway and i a resilient packing strip extending about anddisposed against the wall side of the anchoring rib, and a door fittingthe frame and having a dished, inwardly flexible sheet metal panelhaving the concavity extending from all points around its edge to acommon central area of the panel and having a peripheral anchoring andsealing rib to seat against said packing and about the door frame ribwhen the door is closed, said panel flexing inwardly under pressureapplied thereagainst in closing direction to press said anchoring andsealing ri'b more intimately into the packing strip and drawing said ribinto tight interengagement with the anchoring rib of the door fran e,whereby the door edge is restrained from radial inward movement and thebody of the door is placed under tension, the concavity of the paneltending to diminish the strain on said interengaging ribs and on thebody of the panel. 7

29. A door structure of the character described, including,incombination, a door frame having a doorway, a swinging door to closethe doorway and having an lnwardlyflexible sheet metal panel and a metalstiffening edgeframe extending about andsecured to the panel,complemental anchoring ribs on the panel edge frame and door frameinterengaging when the door is closed to restrain the radial inwardmovement of the door edge when the door is subjected to flexing pressurein closing direction, said panel being dished'inwardly, and theconcavity extending from all points around its edge to acommon centerarea of the panel, said panel shape tend-,

ing to diminish strain on said interengaging ribs and on the body of thepanel when the panel is subjected to inwardly flexing pressure.

' 36. A door structure of the character described, including, incombination, a door frame having a doorway, a swinging door to close thedoorway and having an inwardly flexible sheet metal panel and a metalstiffening edge frame extending about and secured to the panel,complemental anchoring ribs on the panel edge frame and door frameinterengaging when the door is closed to restrain the radial inwardmovement of the door edge when the door issubjected to flexing pressurein closing direction, said panel being dished inwardly, and theconcavity extending from all points around its edge to a common centerarea of the panel, said panel-shape tending to diminish strain on saidinterengaging ribs and on the body of the panel when the panel issubjected to inwardly flexing pressure, and packing on the door framehaving water-tight contact with the an angle to the plane ofthe door, ofa door frame comprising a channel iron having a bottom wall adapted tobe disposed longitudinally-along and to be welded to metallicpartition'members providing an openingfor the frame, flanges extendingoutwardly from the edges of the channel side walls and substantially atright angles thereto, and a tie-piece bridging and secured to saidflanges to form with the channel iron a frame member box-like in crosssection, the said ribs of said doors interengaging with the flangesextending outwardly from the side walls of the door frame channel whenthe doors are closed to restrain radial inward movemen each door whensubjected to inwardly flexing pressure.

32. The combination comprising a door frame, two doors mounted to engageopposite sides of said frame, each of said doors having a dishedflexible sheet metal panel therein, the dished face of eachpanel beingon the outward side there of, and means engaging the panels in saiddoors t of the edges of for urging them toward each other when said 7doors are closed.

33. The combination comprising a door frame,

its edge to a common central area, the concave face of each panel beingon the outward side thereof, and means engaging said panels'in thevicinity of said central areas for urging them toward each other whenthe doors are closed.

ALBERT L, LAMBERT.

V FRANCIS M LAMBERT; J

